The Magic of Krishna's Flute

O rare voice, which is a spell Unto all on earth who dwell!

O rich voice of rapturous love, Making melody above!

Krishna's, Hari's one in two, Sound these mortal verses through! Sound like that soft flute which made

Such a magic in the shade

Calling deer-eyed maidens nigh, Waking wish and stirring sigh,

Thrilling blood and melting breasts, Whispering love's divine unrests.

This is an illustration of the following lines from Canto VIII of the Gita Govinda:

antarmohan amaulighurnanachalan mandaravibhram sanastambhakar shanadrip tiharshana

mahamantrah kurangidrisam

dripyaddana vaduyama nadivishad durvaraduh khapadam

bhramsah kamsaripor vipolayatuvah sreyamsi vamsiravah

"The sound of Krishna's flute charms the entire creation, animate as well as inanimate. The deer-eyed gopis of Vraja are so fascinated "herewith that mandara flowers which decorate

their coiffure fall. May the sound of Krishna's flute, the enemy of Kamsa and saviour of gods, bless you all!"

Enter, Sweet Radha, The Bower of Hari

So came she where he sat awaiting her At the bower's entry, like a god to see,

With marriage-gladness and the grace of heaven. The pearl set upon his glorious head

Shone like a moon among the leaves, and shoneLike stars the gems that kept her gold gown close;

But still a little while she paused-abashedAt her delight, of her deep joy afraid.

This is an illustration of the following lines from Canto XI of the Gita Govinda:

hara valitara lakanchana kanchidamakeyura kankana manidyu tidipitasya

dvare nikun janila yasya harim nirikshyavridavatimatha sakhi miyam ity uvacha

manju tarakunja talakeli sadanevilasa ratirabha sahasita vadane

pravisa radhe madhava samipamiha

navabhavada sokadalala sayanasarevilasa kuchakala satara lahare

kusuma chayarachita suchiva sagehevilasa kusuma suku maradehe

Noticing Hari at the entrance of the bower, Radha, who decked herself with beaming ornaments, felt abashed. But her sakhi thus exhorted her:

"Enter, sweet Radha,the bower of Madhava.

Seek delight, O thou, whose bosom laughs

with the foretaste of happiness.

Enter, sweet Radha,the bower graced

with a bed of asoka leaves.

Seek delight, O thou, whose garland leaps

with joy on the breast.

Enter, sweet Radha,the bower illuminedwith gay blossoms.

Seek delight, O thou, whose limbs far excel

them in softness."

Radha Enters the Bower of Govinda

This picture illustrates the following lines from Canto XI of the Gita Govinda:

sa sasadhvasa sanandamgovinde lolalochana

sinjanaman jumanjirampravivesabhi vesanam

radha vadanavilokana vikasitavividhavikaravi bhangam

jalanidhimiva vidhuman daladarsanatara litatun gatarangam

harimekarasam chiram

abhilashita vilasamsa dadarsa guruharshavasam

vadava danaman anga nivasam

"Radha with timid joy, fixing her eyes on Govinda, while she musically sounded the rings of her ankles and the bells of her zone, entered the mystic bower of her only beloved.

There she beheld Madhava who delighted in her alone; who so long had sighed for her embrace; and whose countenance then gleamed with excessive rapture; his heart was

agitated by her sight, and like the mighty deep which sees the moon and rises, all his life uprose to drink her beams."

The Union of Radha and Krishna

Then she, no more delaying,entered straight;

Her step a little faltered,But her face shone with unutterable quick love.

And while the music of her banglespassed the porch,

Shame, which had lingered in her downcast eyes, Departed shamed...

And like the mighty deep, Which sees the moonAnd rises, all his life

Uprose to drink her beams.

The painting illustrates the following verse from Canto XII of the Gita Govinda:

gatavati sakhivrindemandatrap abharanir bhara

smara parava sakutasphita

smitasnapi tadharam

sarasamanasam drishtvaradham muhurnavapallava prasavagayane nikshiptak shimuvacha harih priyam

kisalaya sayanatale kuru kaminicharananalina vinivesam

tava padapalla vavairipara bhavamidamanu bhavatu suvesam

"Tears of joy gushed in a stream from the full eyes of Radha and their watery glances beamed. on her best beloved. Even shame, which had lingered in her downcast eyes was itself ashamed and departed, when the fawn-eyed Radha, gazed on the brightened face of Krishna, while she passed by the soft edge of his couch and the bevy of her attendant nymphs warily retired from

the bower.

Govinda, seeing his beloved cheerful, her lips sparkling with smiles, and her eyes speaking desire, thus eagerly addressed her; while she carelessly reclined on the leafy bed strewn with soft blossoms: 'Set the lotus of thy foot on this azure bosom; and let this couch be victorious

over all, who rebel against love.'"

Hang On My Eears the Jewelled Earrings, O Accomplished Youth!

The Sanskrit text on the painting from Canto XII of the Gita Govinda reads:

nayana kuranga tarangavikasanira sakare srutimandale

manasi japasavila sadharesubhavesa nivesaya kundale

"Hang on my ears the jewelled ear-rings,O accomplished youth,

Whence the antelopes of thine eyesmay run downwards and sport at pleasure."

Arrange My Tresses, My Love!

This picture illustrates the following verse from Canto XII of the Gita Govinda:

bhramarachayam rachayan tamupariruchiram suchiram mama sammukhe

jitakamale vimale parikarmayanarmajana kamalakam mukhe

"Arrange my tresses,O beloved Krishna,round my temples.

These are purer than the lotus blossom."

Place a Circle of Musk on My Forehead

This is an illustration of the following verse from Canto XII of the Gita Govinda:

mrigamad arasav alitam lalitamkuru tilakamali kara janikare

vihi takalan kakalam kamalananavisramita sramasikare mama

ruchire chikure kuru manadamanasi jadhvaja chamareratigalite lalite kusumani

sikhandi sikhanda kadamare

"O Love, place now a fresh circle of musk, black as the lunar spots, on the moon of my forehead; and mix gay flowers on my tresses with a peacock's feathers, in graceful order, that

they may wave like the banners of Kama."

Krishna Tying the Tresses of Radha

This is an illustration from Canto XII of the Gita Govinda. Krishna ties the tresses of Radha on the River Bank. The painting is unique in the sense that for the first time we see a cypress tree

in a Kangra painting. Gita Govinda thus concludes:

rachaya kuchayoschitrampatram kurushva kapolayorghataya jaghane kanchim

mugdhasraja kabari bharam

kalaya valayasrenim panaupade maninupura

viti nigaditah pritahpitambaropi tatha karot

yadgandharva kalasu kausalamanu dhyanam cha yad vaishnavam

yachchrin garavivek atattvamapi yat kavyeshu lilayitam

tatsarvam jayadeva panditkavehkrishnaikatan atmanah

sanandah parisodhayantusudhiyah srigita govindatah

"While she spoke, Krishna triumphed; and obeying her sportful behests, he placed musky spots on her bosom and forehead, dyed her temples with radiant hues, embellished her eyes with

kajal, decked her braided hair and her neck with fresh garlands, and tied on her wrists loosened bracelets, on her ankles the beamy rings, and around her waist the zone of bells, that

sounded with ravishing melody.

Whatever is delightful in the modes of music, whatever is divine in meditations on Vishnu, whatever is exquisite in the sweet art of love, whatever is graceful in the fine strains of poetry,

all that let the happy and wise learn from the songs of Jayadeva whose soul is united with the foot of Narayana."